Art Biz Blog

Deep Thought Thursday: The price of viewing a masterpiece

Alyson Stanfield — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 08:09:50 -0600

The Portland Art Museum plans to charge $17 for visitors to see a single painting this fall: La Velata by Raphael, which will be on loan from the Palatine Gallery in Florence.

That’s not $17 admission to the Museum. That’s $17 in addition to whatever else you choose to see while you’re there. Children under 17 and all school tours will be free. The Museum will also provide a free evening.

Is $17 a fair price to see this single painting by Raphael?

(I’ll try to follow up this post with the pros and cons of such a move, so talk to me . . . )

What to tweet

Alyson Stanfield — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 07:45:45 -0600

Every Twitter user starts out with a similar dilemma: What can I say in 140 characters or less that will be interesting to my followers and help me gain new followers?

Above all, aim for variety in your tweets. Here is a menu to start with, but there is plenty more to share with Twitterdom.

1. Funny Tweets
Everyone loves to smile and to laugh. Share a link to a funny video, repeat a funny quote, or reveal your own sense of humor. Even better if it is related to art.

2. Inspirational Tweets
Ditto everything I said under #1.

3. Helpful Resources
This is a biggie! The more you can help people, the more they will return the favor and help you build a following. Because Twitter is social, being helpful earns you extra credit and more friends. Recent tweets I’ve seen included coupon codes, sales on art supplies and marketing materials, and useful articles.

4. Questions and Opinions
Ask questions of your own because people love to give their opinions! Answer questions because you want to be part of the conversation. Share what might be a controversial opinion if you really want to stir things up.

Ask questions about resources (e.g. what type of camera to purchase), ask seemingly--but fun--irrelevant questions (I just asked if it was “biggie” or “biggy” as I was writing #3 above; most said "biggie"), and ask for guidance on a marketing decision.

5. Retweet (”RT” in Twitter lingo)
Retweeting is repeating what someone else wrote. Using the RT at the beginning of your tweet followed by the person’s @name gives them credit. It also shows up in their @Replies column so they can see how kind you were. It’s a courtesy and, again, helps you make friends on Twitter. Here are some recent RTs from me.

6. Quotes
As I said above under #1 and #2, you can share funny and inspirational quotes, but you can also share thought-provoking or profound quotes. Again, even better if they are art-related, such as a critic’s opinion. Be sure to give credit to your source!

I came across--again--this quote that I love and tweeted it yesterday. It's from Kimmelman's book The Accidental Masterpiece.

7. Leads and Opportunities
If you hear of a deadline for a show, a grant, or a residency, tweet it.

8. What You're Doing
In an earlier post, I said that we don't really care what you're currently doing, but I was wrong. In his TIME magazine cover story, Steven Johnson writes:

And yet as millions of devotees have discovered, Twitter turns out to have unsuspected depth. In part this is because hearing about what your friends had for breakfast is actually more interesting than it sounds. The technology writer Clive Thompson calls this "ambient awareness": by following these quick, abbreviated status reports from members of your extended social network, you get a strangely satisfying glimpse of their daily routines. We don't think it at all moronic to start a phone call with a friend by asking how her day is going. Twitter gives you the same information without your even having to ask.

Thanks @lisacall for bringing this to my attention in your comment.

9. Your Blog Posts or Website
Aha! We finally got to promoting your art. It’s not a mistake that it’s this far down the list. You must make friends before you can promote to them. You have to send all of the other tweets in order to “earn the right” to promote to your followers. If you were constantly promoting, you’d lose friends and followers quickly. A good rule of thumb is to promote 5-10% of the time.

Don’t just send a tweet that says “New blog post, click here: http://...” You have to entice people. Pique their curiosity so they want to click! There are thousands of new blog posts they could choose from. Why should they click on yours? What will they get as a result?

Ditto for sending tweets that say “Just posted a new work on Etsy, click here . . . “ Again, describe it. Make me curious! The more descriptive you are, the easier your tweet will be found in a search.

REMINDER: Don’t forget to use http:// in front of your URLs in your tweets. That’s the only way to make them clickable in Twitter.

I continue my Twitter tips. Leave a question in the comments and I’ll try to answer them in future posts.

Related

Try Twitter (Art Marketing Action newsletter)

Decide on a Twitter username

Find your way around Twitter (Profile and Home)

Find your way around Twitter, part 2 (@Replies, Direct Messages, and Favorites)

Podcast: Take over a vacant storefront--legally

Alyson Stanfield — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 07:54:20 -0600

Even with the current economic challenges, there are opportunities available for artists who are willing to think outside the box. Listen to the podcast to learn about a promising, surprising, and FREE! venue for artists, which also benefits the communities involved.

[2:50]

Related

Art Marketing Action newsletter (a written version of this podcast)

Curate & Install Your Art Exhibit Like a Pro

Assess Art Venues

Art Goes "Pop" During Recession (BBC)

92 Empty Shops Leeds (blog: Leeds, UK)

→ Instructions for subscribing to the Art Marketing Action podcast on iTunes.

@abstanfield Tweekly

Alyson Stanfield — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 16:11:28 -0600

Paying my affiliates. Want a little extra money?

"a real man wouldn't paint any pictures! Or wonder about the universe Or believe in dreams Or think trees sometimes look at him." #dekooning

FREE Printable Blank Color Wheels fr artist Shirley Williams: http://color-wheel-artist.com/printable-color-wheels.html (color theory site)

Have a need for easy email groups for collaborating, staying in touch with specific people? See http://tgethr.com

Any of you artists ever advertise in Artist Advocate magazine? Good results?

RT @SianLindemann: Thank your critics, then kindly ignore, as if they really wished for your success, . . .

Just found Artists' Health Insurance Resource Center

RT Changes afoot! Lots of old newsletters coming down. Get them while you can in the Art Marketing Action archives

It's embarrassing how long it's been since I logged in to LinkedIn. Anyone else find themselves ignoring LI?

RT @nametagscott: Be insanely committed. In your consistency, you will become more look-up-to-able. Does your commitment inspire people?

Makers of American and Canadian fine craft: NICHE Awards deadline is 9/30. Applications at http://nicheawards.com

Modern Postcard has a 50% off postcards (1000 or more) sale through 7/31. Use code: OBE-5JUL09. http://bit.ly/FGJOo

Please RT Win $4100 worth of free artist-made outdoor furniture in the Ugly Patio Furniture Contest. Due 8/1

Visual artist reality series open casting calls July 11-19

Alyson Stanfield — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 11:34:44 -0600

Just received this email from the production company that did Project Runway and Top Chef. They are casting a new show that will showcase emerging visual artists creating and competing on Bravo.

Full info on how to apply is available at www.BravoTV.com/casting.

Love or hate reality TV, this ought to be interesting. And don't you think it's high time that artists are given their due alongside dancers, musicians, chefs, worm-eaters, and show-all celebrities?

*********************

Magical Elves (Peabody Award-winning Project Runway, Emmy Award-winning Top Chef) and Sarah Jessica Parker (Golden Globe- and Emmy Award-winner) and her production company, Pretty Matches, are teaming up for an hour-long creative competition series among aspiring contemporary artists who will create and compete to conquer the art world!

If you’re an emerging or mid-career visual artist with a unique, powerful voice that demands a bigger stage – well. . . Here. It. Is.

We want contemporary artists. Your medium could be one of many (or several of many) – painting, sculpture, installation, video, photography, mixed-media – we want voices that believe in their art and want the world to know.

*To be considered for the cast, attend one of our four regional casting calls around the country, see below.*

Go to www.BravoTV.com/casting to download an application and see what you need to bring with you to an open call.

GOOD LUCK.

*********************

OPEN CALL INFO:
LOS ANGELES
LA>
Saturday July 11th & Sunday, July 12th
10:00am - 2:00pm

MIAMI
Fredric Snitzer Gallery
Tuesday, July 14th
10:00am - 2:00pm

CHICAGO
School of the Art Institute : Sullivan Galleries : 33 State Street
Thursday, July 16th
10:00am - 2:00pm

NEW YORK
White Columns
Saturday, July 18th & Sunday, July 19th
10:00am - 2:00pm

Deep Thought Thursday: By the master’s hand?

Alyson Stanfield — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 12:21:29 -0600

In reading de Kooning: An American Master, it’s pretty clear that there’s a dispute over how much control Willem de Kooning had over his late works, when he was suffering from dementia.

At different points in time . . .

Someone else chose and laid the colors out for de Kooning.
Someone else drew the initial drawing on the canvas.
Someone else mixed the colors.
Someone else decided when a painting was completed or went to the gallery.

Willem de Kooning, Gotham News, 1955. Oil on canvas, 69 x 79".
Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Gift of Seymour H. Knox, 1955

This begs the question:

When is a master’s work not his or her own?

Don’t leave your artwork without a piece of paper

Alyson Stanfield — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 14:32:33 -0600

Let’s say you take your work to a venue (gallery, home, business, etc.) because someone has asked to see it in person. After you arrive, you’re asked to leave your art at the venue so that other people can see it. It’s fine to do this as long as you have something in writing.

Image ©Jeannette Cuevas, Triple Crown.

Always get your art business transactions in writing! In this scenario, while you didn’t exchange money, you did agree to leave a valuable asset in the care of someone else.

The piece of paper (which might be called a loan agreement) you draw up should state your name, the title, dimensions, and value of each piece you’re leaving. Your agreement should also be clear that you retain ownership and copyright and that the venue agrees to insure the work while they have it in their possession. The art should not leave that venue without your written consent. It would be terrific if you have a photo printout of it--either attached to the document or printed on the same page.

You could also add a schedule for pickup--the deadline or date when you would like to retrieve the work.

Include a space on the document for both parties to sign.

Consider creating this document ahead of time and taking two copies with you so that you don’t have to hunt down a copy machine. You would then have two originals--one for you and one for the borrower.

What else am I forgetting?

(Note: Please consult with an attorney for your specific situation.)

Podcast: Try Twitter

Alyson Stanfield — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 08:03:04 -0600

New to Twitter? Wonder what "tweeting" is all about? Give Twitter a try and listen to the podcast to learn why Twitter offers the highest form of marketing.

[4:06]

Related

Art Marketing Action newsletter (a written version of this podcast)

Cultivate Collectors for your art (online class begins July 8)

Decide on a Twitter username

Find your way around Twitter (Profile and Home)

Find your way around Twitter, part 2 (@Replies, Direct Messages, and Favorites)

→ Instructions for subscribing to the Art Marketing Action podcast on iTunes.

@abstanfield Tweekly

Alyson Stanfield — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 10:46:00 -0600

Some highlights from this past week on Twitter. All of these are my updates. If you don't want to miss them, please follow me: @abstanfield.

Joshua Tree Nat'l Park-Riverside Art Museum artist residency applications due 7/15. http://bit.ly/C5uXP

RT @rebeccashapiro: "Miles Davis bends the notes. He doesn't play them, he bends them. I bend the paint" p. 562 #dekooning-->Great quote!

Don't send your press release as a Word document! Put it in the body of the email. Attachments look suspicious and might carry viruses.

@thebigdogshow Be sure all the details of your e-invite is in the body of the email so people don't HAVE to open an attachment to get info

Galleries announce they're going paperless for mailings http://bit.ly/5wFiN

Nice thing to do: Send someone an email out of the blue to tell them how much you appreciate their blog, newsletter, or tweets.

RT @PublicityHound: Funny video of a dog defending itself from stealing its own bone. http://ow.ly/ga2p --> That's hysterical!

RT @PublicityGuru: MASHABLE: 19 Twitter Desktop Apps Compared http://bit.ly/149upL

Rental car prices going up up up. Why and how to save: http://bit.ly/JIA0c

Amarillo College (TX 2-yr school) looking for experienced painting/drawing faculty member. Google if you're interested--sorry I have no link

In Salida, CO. Gallery says sales up 40% so far this year!

Find your way around Twitter, part 2: @Replies, Direct Messages, and Favorites

Alyson Stanfield — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 11:04:54 -0600

Here’s a little bit more about what you see when you are on your Twitter Home page. (Remember from my earlier post that this is the page that only you see when you sign in to Twitter.)

The following three links are in the right column of your Twitter Home. I think of them as separate inboxes that help with organizing tweets, but you can think of them as folders, pages, or just links.

1. @Replies

In short, whenever @YourName is used in a tweet anywhere, it will appear under @Replies on your Twitter Home. The picture here shows you what my @Replies page looked like recently. Just click on it to make it full size.

Whenever someone replies to something you have tweeted and keeps your Twitter name in the reply, it will show up on your @Replies page. Likewise, if someone has retweeted (more on that later) one of your tweets and kept your name in tact, it will show up here.

This is important. While you can’t possibly keep up with what everyone is tweeting, you do want to know when your name is being mentioned. Check this link frequently.

I wrote earlier about the @ symbol, which includes an example.

2. Direct Messages

a.k.a. DM

This is easy! These are private messages that only you can see. Whereas a regular tweet is seen by all of the Twitter user’s followers, only the named recipient can see a Direct Message.

You send a DM when your tweet applies only to that one person and the whole world doesn’t need to or shouldn’t see the message.

To send a Direct Message, just type DM @ThePersonsName at the beginning of your tweet. You can also send a DM by going into your Direct Messages. The box at the top will ask you who you want to send your DM to.

As far as I know, you can still send DMs only to people who are following you. Otherwise, don’t annoy others with emails asking them to follow you just so you can DM them.

3. Favorites

I think of these as bookmarks and I don’t really use them, although I see how they can be very useful.

Say someone tweeted something that was useful or that you might want to remember. Just put your cursor over their tweet. In the upper right of the update, you’ll see a star.

If you click on that star, it will add that tweet to your Favorites and then color the star yellow. You can return to your Favorites to find it again in the future.

That should keep you busy for the holiday weekend. What else do you need to know about using Twitter--if you haven’t let me know already?